Handoff vs Supernova
Handoff
handoff.com
Supernova
supernova.ioSide by side
| Figure | Handoff | Supernova |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | $35/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 0 | 3 |
| Spec score · Component Libraries Software | 7.9 (#3) | 7.7 (#5) |
| Spec score · Design System Software | 7.9 (#7) | 7.9 (#9) |
| Spec score · Developer Handoff Software | 8.0 (#15) | 7.8 (#17) |
| Documentation | Handoff serves design system data through a browser UI, a REST API, and an MCP server that read from the same underlying data. | Its documentation editor supports real-time collaboration, page history, and publishing. |
| Intended users | Handoff describes itself as built for designers, engineers, project managers, and their agents. | Supernova describes its intended users as design system teams, engineers, designers, and product managers working from shared product knowledge. |
| Product | Handoff is design system documentation and automation with a UI, REST API, and MCP server reading from the same underlying data. | Supernova centralizes design and code data, documentation, and AI context so teams and agents can use a shared source of truth. |
| Support | The contact page says messages are read by a human and directs bugs, feature requests, and pull requests to the open source repository. | All plans include in-product support chat, while Enterprise adds priority support and onboarding. |
Plans
In their own words
Handoff
Handoff is an open-source tool for design system documentation and automation for teams and AI agents. A browser UI, REST API, and MCP server all read from the same underlying data. Figma is the only source currently wired up: a workspace can pull design tokens from Figma and push tokens, components, documentation, and assets to a registry. Handoff can create documentation pages for React and other component libraries, including live previews, properties, and tokens. Its token pipeline converts Figma tokens into CSS, SCSS, Tailwind, and DTCG outputs. Compatible agents such as Claude, Cursor, and Windsurf can access design system data through the MCP server; agents can also create component pages and usage guidelines for team approval. A promptable design space supports exploration with approved components, tokens, and brand patterns. Workspaces can use local filesystem-backed mode or a Postgres-backed registry, deployable with Docker or Vercel. The docs describe 56 MCP tools across 12 categories and an OpenAPI 3.1 specification for each registry’s REST API. Each registry currently serves one workspace, and the handoff-app package requires Node 20.9 or later. Other data sources and destinations are future direction, not shipped connectors.
Supernova
Supernova brings design system information, code data, documentation, and AI context together as a shared source for teams and agents. It tracks component health, manages design tokens, and supports multiple brands in one workspace. Its documentation editor supports real-time collaboration, page history, and publishing. Through MCP, it provides filtered design system context to AI tools including Cursor, Copilot, and Claude Code.
Code automation can export tokens and open a pull request when design system changes are made. Listed integrations include Figma, Storybook, Tokens Studio, GitHub, Azure, Bitbucket, GitLab, and VS Code; pre-built integrations are included in the Free plan. The Free plan supports up to five seats and limits documentation pages, connected data sources, page history, and analytics periods. Pro costs $35 a month per editor seat. Supernova Portal is available on the web, and its desktop app is currently available only for Mac.